Tag Archives: attendance

Lately I’ve been seeing more people at Mass. More teens. Is it just my imagination? Have you noticed this too? I don’t know if it’s just a local phenomenon or what.

I can think of a few possible explanations for this increase in attendance.

My less interesting theories:

1) The college students are home.

2) With the school year wrapping up, people aren’t as “busy,” which is apparently a common excuse for not going to Mass.

My more interesting theories:

1) Pope Francis is super cool and this inspires people to go to Mass.

2) Or maybe….my generation loves Catholicism!

But seriously! There was a least one teen in every couple of rows of pews today at Vigil Mass! Yesssssss! This is a great sign!

Is my generation more passionate about being Catholic than the Vatican II generation? That would probably be a very good thing. As I understand it, a lot of people who grew up during Vatican II were somewhat discouraged by all the things changing in the Catholic Church.

Over the 2000 year history (oh, no big deal that we’ve been around THAT long, right?) of the Church, there have been highs and lows in Catholic vigor. To my generation: let’s bring Catholicism alive in our time!!!!! 😉

My family pulled into the church parking lot for Vigil Mass, and there were, like, no cars! I’d say only about a fifth of those who normally come to Mass were there.

Now seriously, how do people want to bring in the New Year? Worshipping God or watching racy New Years specials on TV? Now, yes, I too watch those shows…I like the musical performances, minus all the suggestiveness. But I’m more than willing to miss secular world phenomena for Mass.

In all honesty, I used to never go to Holy Days of Obligation (nor did I go to Mass in general). It wasn’t until the Holy Spirit touched me at my Confirmation that I started going to Mass. And I LOVE it. I don’t even understand how I could have hated it that much before, but I did.

Anyway, I have no real purpose in posting this because there’s nothing much I can do about others’ poor Mass attendance. I suppose that this is all I’d like to say:

If you’re someone who doesn’t go to Mass weekly and on Holy Days of Obligation, please go. It’s a mortal sin not to (for real– I was shocked when I found that out). Your life will improve when you go. Here are some of the reasons I love going to Mass:

1. It’s the only place you can get the Eucharist— the REAL Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
2. I love singing, although I’m not that good at it. It’s a great way to pray.
3. I love being surrounded by other believers. It feeds my own faith.
4. Mass is the perfect prayer. Sacred Scripture. Petitions. Hanging out with Jesus himself, present in the Eucharist. Nicene Creed. Asking for forgiveness. Reverence. Mass has it ALL!
5. It’s a chance to forget about all the other things going on in life. I try to leave my course load, college applications, and things I have on my to do list at the door. Er, I mean vestibule.

I could go on and on, but I’ll stop there because its past 1 AM.

Happy New Year!! If you don’t go to Mass, make it your New Year’s resolution!